DOVER -- The city council was notified Tuesday night of a possible glitch in the progress of the Round Rock subdivision in southern Dover.

After testing the fire hydrants at the subdivision during a routine inspection, Fire Chief John Taylor said he discovered the flow was only about 550 gallons per minute, which is about four times below the water line's capacity.

Morgan Barrett, engineer for the project, and Dave Garza, inspector, were mostly interested in potable water capabilities when requesting the hydrants be tested, Taylor said. But Taylor soon grew concerned about the fire department's water needs.

"I don't know if that (rate of flow) meets their needs," Taylor told the council, "but I know it doesn't meet the fire (department's) needs."

Utility Superintendent Yancy Poynter said booster pumps have to be manually turned on during a fire for that particular area because of elevation and volume, but because few people currently live in the area, he could not be sure the extra pumps would allow for enough water.

Mayor Johnny Waldo then re-addressed the city's need to install new or upgrade existing water and sewer lines to accommodate its residents.

Round Rock Road, along with Slab Town Road, were two residential areas without wastewater treatment discussed at last month's meeting.

"Our services have to grow as the city grows," Waldo said Tuesday.

The mayor previously suggested two lift stations be constructed in the areas so residents could connect to gravity-fed lines instead of the existing low-quality pressurized lines.

He said with the lift stations every resident in the newly annexed areas could have the service, and the city's new favorable fire rating would not suffer.

Preliminary figures of a proposed holding tank and lift stations were scheduled to be presented at Tuesday's meeting, but Waldo instead told the council the city's bond attorney has been contacted and "it's in the works."

Final approval of the subdivision owned by Robert Roberts was granted by the council in April.

Try again later

Taylor also told the council Tuesday the fire department was denied the Arkansas Rural Development Commission grant money it applied for in March to purchase new auto and building extrication equipment.

Taylor applied for a $12,000 state matching grant to help fund the much-needed equipment because of the outdated equipment currently used by the department.

He also previously explained to the council the volunteer firefighters have been well-trained to rescue people involved in wrecks, but cannot use their skills because they do not have adequate tools to do so.

The city has set aside the $12,000 match needed for the grant, but must try again to get the state's match.

Taylor said the commission granted about one-third of the requests.

Other business:

- The council passed an 18-page ordinance establishing licensing requirements and regulations for sexually oriented businesses within the city after a 40-minute reading of the ordinance by City Attorney Michael Robbins.

- George Boyd was appointed as the newest Dover City Council alderman. He will replace Alderman Frank Brown.